Children’s Dance

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THE FIRST DAY OF DANCE FOR 2024 – 2025:

Saturday, September 7th

CREATIVE MOVEMENT (ages 3 and 4)

A 45-minute-long creative dance class for young dancers, introducing basic dance movement through music and rhythm, the use of scarves, hoops, balls, tambourines, and more. Dancers will begin to learn and understand basic ballet terminology.

PRE-BALLET

This class prepares the young dancer for an easier time in the beginning of serious dance study. The classical ballet terminology will be used frequently. Dancers should bring a smile and their ballet shoes.

* Ballet is the focus of Creative Movement and Pre-Ballet because it is the basis for all forms of dance. Attention to one discipline allows the young dancer to properly attain correct placement and terminology, before moving on to the other types of dance.

BALLET/POINTE

Dancers will learn classical technique, and proper ballet behavior. Dancers are introduced to the rigors of pointe work through preparatory exercises. Class will consist of barre, adagio, allegro, pointe, stretch and variations. Students must be at least 11 years of age to start pointe, unless noted by instructor.

BALLET WORKSHOP

By instructor invitation- students must be enrolled in at least two other dance classes to attend workshop in addition to the invitation.  Dancers will engage in an hour and a half long class and given a chance to learn famous repertoire. This class must be taken by the committed only as it is where character roles for our yearly performance are created. Advanced students only and must be enrolled in another technique discipline. Be prepared to learn about dance and its partner- ACTING!! Workshop is not the class for you if a Saturday commitment cannot be made for the year. Please understand that technical ability is a must along with speed, agility and eagerness to learn.

JAZZ

Dancers will learn about Classical and Broadway techniques, while also exploring its roots-African jazz dance. We will explore different jazz ideas from master teachers such as Giordano, Luigi, and of course a little bit of Broadway. Students should be prepared to move fast and get sweaty! Jazz shoes required.

MODERN

Originally created as a rebel against ballet, modern is done with bare feet. Dancers will enjoy twisting, curving, rebounding, and releasing while exploring the different modern techniques. The floor is used often and is thought of as a silent partner. This form of dance can take many shapes- soft and fluid, or rigid and fast. Modern technique is often used by many ballet choreographers and has become very popular. African Dance technique will also be explored, as a sect of modern.

HIP HOP

This is a style of dance that has taken on many forms over the last few years. We will focus on learning the proper technique while learning some of the clean movements that are found on music videos social media, and more. Clean popular songs and movements will be used. Hip Hop sneakers are to be worn.

TAP

These classes focus on musical phrasing and the complexity of rhythms, the challenge of “making melodies” with the feet. Tap is a percussive form of dance with deep roots in history.

CHARACTER (ages 13+)

Students will learn traditional and non-traditional folk repertoire.  Participation requires previous dance experience and a clear understanding of music.  Character shoes required.

CONTEMPORARY

Students will learn traditional jazz, ballet, and unorthodox movements fused together in a way that is considered contemporary.  Must have experience in either ballet or modern.  Contact improvisation will be used in class.

LYRICAL

This style embodies various aspects of ballet, jazz and modern.

 *Class offerings are subject to change.